Avignon should be one of Europe’s great cities, but isn’t! [video]

Avignon is a great city to visit, there’s no doubt about that. It’s got enormous amounts of charm and character, is stacked with culture and history, and is easy to walk around and see everything worth seeing.

Unfortunately the local louts have decided ‘tagging’ walls and buildings with ugly graffiti is far more worthwhile than taking pride on their own city. We’re not against street art, in fact we think it can really add to the uniqueness of a place. Our home city, Melbourne, is stacked full of wonderful street art, while Chiang Mai has some of the best we’ve ever seen. But what we saw isn’t art, it’s vandalism.

View back towards the city from the Pont d’Avignon

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go, because we think Avignon is a really beautiful place. The massive Palaias des Papes (Palace of the Popes) is of considerable historical significance if religion or history is your thing, while the lovely little squares and backstreets scattered throughout the Old Town are wonderful to explore.

However, I do have one word of advice. After you’ve taken a quick look at the main town squares at Place de L’Horloge and Place du Palais (square next to the Palais des Papes), walk away in any direction to explore the hidden gems of Avignon. The main squares are busy with tourists and the rest of the Old Town is far more impressive anyway.